Portable fireplace structure



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,699,241

w. c. JOHNSON PORTABLE FIREPLACE STRUCTURE Filed July 12, 1926 E) HA9 /7TTWIMIEYS.

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM G. JOHNSON, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

PORTABLE FIREPLACE STRUCTURE.

Application filed July 12,

This invention relates to a fire place or lar decorative structure for adwelling. As is well known to those skilled in the art, fire places haveheretofore been made of brick, tile or similar material and have beenbuilt directly into the wall of a dwelling and usually built integrallywith the chimney. The building material used for these fire places hasbeen quite heavy and although one of such fireplaces might beconstructed for exhibition purposes, it has not been possible to bodllytransfer the fire place structure to a bullding. 'One of the desiderata.of a fire place is the ornamental feature thereof. Most modern dwellingsare provided with some form of heating plant and the fire place isordlnarily not necessary as aheating device. It is desirable, however,to have some sort of a heating device in the fire place to give the samea realistic effect.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a portableunitary structure of fire place and one which is comparatively light inweight and which can be quickly, easily and inexpensively installed in adwelling without being permanently built into the wall.

It it a further object of the invention to provide a fire placestructure which is readily movable and which can be readily installedwhere desired, the same comprising a frame with a covering thereon,which covering is further covered with an ornamental surface comprisinglight, comparatively small and inexpensive ornamental elements.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a simple, flat,metal covered block or plate adapted to form the exterior of a fireplace or similar structure.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which like 'reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views andin which Fig. 1 is a viewin front elevation of a fire place, embodyingthe present invention;

Fig, 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig.3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line H of Fig. 1 as indicatedbythe arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of one of the novel elements used;

1926. Serial No. maaea Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line ofFig. 5 as indicated by the arrows; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section takenon line 7 -7 of Fig. 5 as indicated by the arrows, Figs. at to 7 beingshown on an enlarged scale, and; Fig. 8 is a partial vertical sectionsimilar to Fig. 2, showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, a fire place structure is shown includingvertical posts or frame members 10. While these posts 10 may he made ofvarious materials, in actual practice ithas been found quite suitableand convenientto make them of 2" x 2" timbers. The posts 10 are arrangedin the corners of a rectangular space at each side of the fire place. Acasing 11 preferably of metal is disposed and extends between the twoinner pairs of posts 10 adjacent thebottom of the fire place, saidcasing being substantially rectangular in vertical and horizontalcross-section and being closed onall sides except the front which isopen. Said structure is shown as supported a short distance above thefloor or other supporting surface 12 on which the fire place rests.

a covering 13 which will be made of any suitable material such as woodenboards or artificial wall board or paper board. Thetcover- The posts 10have secured thereto at thefront and ends of the fire place ing 13 is inturn covered by an outer covering or layer of material and this isformed of thin blocks 14 shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

These blocks comprise a thin flat piece of wood or other suitablematerial and while they may be made in various shapes, in the embodimentof the invention illustrated they are shown as rectangular. The block iscovered with a thin piece of sheet metal 14.

While various metals might be used, in practice sheet copper which hasbeen oxidized or darkened, has been found to be very suitable anddesirable. The piece of metal 14 is cut into rectangular form and thecorner portions thereof then notched or cut away so that the metal willfold down evenly all over the edges of the block 14 as shown at14 and14. The metal is then secured at the ends of the block 14 by smallheaded nails or tacks 15. After the metal is thus placed on the block14the block is run between. roller dies having thereon some design such asa leaf; design. This design is impressed on the metal 14: as shown inFig. 5. The blocks14 are then secured to the sheathing or covering 13 asshown in; i

Fig. 4. While the blocks may be variously secured, in practice oneconvenient way of securing the same is that illustrated in Fig.4, inwhich the nails 16 are driven diagonally through the edges of the blocks14. The blocks 14 are secured in slightly spaced relation as shown inFigs. 1 to 4 and the space between the blocks is then filled orpartially filled with some plastic substance 17 which will harden aftera period of time, such as a compositipn. putty, The substance 17 coversup and-obscures the nails 16. The top of the tire place iscovered by aslab 18 which may be of wood or other similar material and which maybeeither solid or of veneered form. The

molding 19 preferably is placed around the fire place in the cornerformed by the slab 18 and the blocks 14, as well as in the corner formedby thefioor 12 and the blocks 14. It will benoted that the front edge ofthe casing 11 is flush with the outer surface otthe blocks 14. Thecasingll preferably has a horizontal partition 11 adjacent its centralportion having apertures 11 therein and an electric heating element 20preferably is provided which is disposed substantially at the focus ofthe refiector 21 disposed in the upper compartment of the casing 11 Theheating element 2O will be provided with current from any suitablesource of supply through the conductors 20. An ornamental grating 22preterably is provided and while this grating may be variousl formed, inthe embodiment oi the invention illustratedit is shown as comprisingspaced horizontal bars 22 having their ends extending beyond the sidesof the casing 11 and provided with open ended downwardly directednotches adapted to fit over headed screws or bolts 23 fastened in thecovering 13. A pluralityof vertical rods 22 extend in 1 spaced relationthrough the bars 22 and are shown as having ornamental knobs 22 at theirupper ends above the upper bar 22?.

hen, the fire place described ,is asse1n bled,it,constitutes aunitaryiandj portable unit, The same can be assembled in the factory orother desired location and transferred bodily to the dwelling in whichit is to be installed. The fire place can be positioned as desired inthe dwelling and shelves 0r bookcases may be arranged in line with theslab 18 if desired. The connect-ion of the conductors E20" to the wiringin the dwelling may be made in any ordinary manner and i1 desired, anordinary detachable plug may be used for this purpose. The reflector 21will have avery bright polished surface and when the heating coil 20 ishot, a bright client will be given to the fire place simulating in agreat degree an actualfire and heat will alsojbe thrown out from thecoil 20 and the reflector 21. The blocks 14 with the material 17therebetween simulates bricks or tiles and give a very pleasinga-ndornamental appearance to the eliterior of the fireplace. It themetal were not tained.

provided with the indentations forming the leaf or other designthereon,the metal would soon show nicks and depressions resulting fromblows or the contact therewith of the furniture or other articles. lViththe design impressed on the metal such indentations are not noticeableand the design at the same time gives a very pleasing and ornamentaleffect. The whole structure is exceedingly lightand inexpensive and canbe furnished at a much lower cost than an ordinary fire place can bebuilt. When the electric heater or coil 20 is in operation, air willpass into the lower front side of the casing 11 upward through theapertures 11" and out above the reflector 21. This air will tend to keepthe reflector 21 cool and a. good circulation will also be ob- The heatfrom member 20 will, of course, be reflected outward into the room. Itwill also be understood that the material between. the blocks 14 may beof difierent colors, thus heightening the ornamental effect.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the structure is the same asheretofore indicated, except that the casing 25 which takes the place ofthe casing 11 already described, has an open portion in the rear of itslower compartment below the partition 25. A conduit 26 such as that froma hot air furnace is shown as having its upper end connected to the rearside of the lower compartment of easing The hot air from the conduit- 26will thus also be delivered through the tire place and the heatingeffect thereof will be increased. 7

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided asimple and efficient structure of fire place constituting a devicehaving a high degree of utility and one which is readily portable andcan be inexpensively made. The device has been amply demonstrated inactual practice and found to be very successful.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which, gene 'allystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed anddefined in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A portable fireplace of light construction,having in combination, spaced vertical posts, said posts being arranged.at the corners of a rectangular space at each side of said fireplace, atop member extending over said posts and projecting forwardly beyond thesame, a sheathing covering of wood or similar material over said postsat the front and ends oft said fireplace, having an opening centrallytherein at the front of said fireplace between theinnerposts, a layer ofthin wooden blocks secured to said sheathing in slightly spacedrelation, said blocks having their outer surfaces covered with a verythin covering of sheet metal having a design impressed thereon, nailssecuring said blocks to said sheathing extending through the edges ofsaid blocks and having their heads disposed in the spaces therebetween,and a filling material adapted to harden, disposed between said blocksand covering said nail heads.

2. A portable fireplace structure having in combination, spaced posts, acovering extending over said posts formed of a sheet of comparativelysoft and light material, a plurality of thin blocks secured to saidcovering in slightly spaced relation, said blocks having their outersurfaces covered with thin sheet metal, and a plastic substance adaptedto harden disposed between said blocks.

3. A portable fireplace structure having in combination, spaced postsarranged at the corners of a rectangular space, a sheathing covering ofwood extendinv over said posts, a plurality of thin wooden blocks ofrectangular shape secured to said sheathing, said blocks being slightlyspaced at their sides and ends, securing means extending through theedges of said blocks into said sheathing, said blocks having their outersurfaces covered with a very thin covering of sheet copper having adesign impressed thereon, and a filling material disposed between saidblocks.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM C. JOHNSON.

